The National Clean Plant Network for Fruit Trees (NCPN-FT) assists in the production of temperate climate fruit and nut trees which are free of targeted plant pathogens and pests that cause economic harm.

NCPN-FT Tier 2 hosted by Southeast Budwood Program at Clemson University

The NCPN-FT Governing Body (Tier 2) met face-to-face in Clemson, South Carolina on November 4-5, 2015. Hosted by Dr. Simon Scott, the Southeast Budwood Program Director at Clemson University, the group discussed current trends in the use of high-throughput sequencing, and challenges in establishing priorities for retaining virus-tested G1 collections. The group also toured state-of-the-art fruit packing facilities at Titan Farms and met with members of the Peach Council.

Maher Al Rwahnih, a project scientist with Foundation Plant Services, has won the Lee M. Hutchins Award from the American Phytopathological Society. The award is given to the author of published research on the diseases of perennial fruit plants.